Plans are well underway for the 71st Alderley Edge Allotments and Gardens Society Show which is moving to a new venue this year.
The annual show will be held at Alderley Edge Primary School Hall on Saturday 25th August.
It is open to all exhibitors and visitors but entries in the flower, fruit and vegetable categories must be grown in the exhibitors own garden or allotment.
Other categories include floral art, domestic crafts, cookery and handicrafts. Whilst children's categories include floral art, cookery, miniature garden and drawing.
Also new for this year, the flower, vegetable and crafts show will be followed by the first annual open evening hog roast and barbecue which will be held at the Alderley Edge Union Club.
Mike Dudley-Jones, Show Secretary, said "For a number of years the Society has been seen perhaps as a mildly eccentric bunch of allotment holders who keep themselves to themselves only coming together at their Annual Show. Increasingly it has been assumed that this Annual Show is for allotment holders and most outsiders are unwelcome!!
"With change and possible upheaval in the air the Committee are anxious to move the Society forward so that it takes a much more proactive role in certain aspects of village life. Examples of this would be a 'new look' Annual Flower Show hopefully with a very much larger number of entrants now that the local community are beginning to know that the show is indeed open to all, including children."
Mike added "We have made the decision to change the venue for the Annual Show this year to the Alderley Edge Primary School both for financial and strategic reasons. The school governors responded positively to our request and in return we have offered to assist them in the administration required to take an active role in the National Kitchen Garden Project from 2013 and beyond.
"The Kitchen Garden Project, is the latest hugely successful primary schools initiative to spring from Australia. The Jamie Oliver Foundation, with much interest from UK government, are trialing and rolling out this project to Primary Schools from early 2013 onwards with a target of every school incorporating Grow it! Cook it! Eat it! skills as a vital Key Stage by 2020. Whether this is achieved or not the learning skills that spring from the project are of great importance to preparing our children for life."
The show will be held in the school hall, opening at 12 noon. The presentation of all awards and prizes will take place at 4.30pm with the hog roast and barbecue kicking off at 6pm. The evening event is open to show exhibitors, visitors and families, tickets are available to non-members on a first come first served basis.
Tickets for visitors to both the annual show and Union Club hog roast will cost £5.00 for adults and £3.00 for children, under 12. Those who only want to attend the hog roast will be charged £4.00 and £3.00 respectively.
The schedule of classes and entry forms are available from Alderley Edge Library or from Mike Dudley-Jones, Show Secretary, on 01625 582288.
Show entry forms must be submitted by 22nd August.
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I would hope that this is still in the annual show programme.